Secret to Learning to kiteboard quickly and safely

How do you learn to kiteboard Quicker and Safer ?

The secret to learning how to kiteboard / kite surf safer and more quickly than most people is to adopt the following agenda:

Understand that Kiteboarding/ Kitesurfing is an Extreme Sport and there are real risks to the safety of you and those around you.   Ask yourself, “would you sky dive without proper training from a certified, licensed and insured training facility that has had years of experience teaching people to sky dive ?”

Understand the kiteboarding is a KITE Skill above all else!  Be GREAT with the kite, and riding is easy.

Get experienced professional instruction from a certified, licensed and insured kiteboarding instructor. Make sure he/she has taught at least 50 students  how to kiteboard.  Avoid taking lessons from another kiteboarder , even if they are a very good rider.  I have had to fix so many dangerous practices, that were taught to my incoming students, who took a previous lesson from their friends, or some hot shot rider.

History has shown that inexperienced instructors and non instructors, don’t know how prepare you for the risks and independency of the sport. They consistently fail to teach you the skills needed to make you safer,  and self sufficient with the kite and your safety.

Uncertified and uninsured instructors have a history of teaching unsafe and risky techniques to their students. They are not accountable for their actions, because they don’t have to follow the guidelines of any certification agency.  Since they are not licensed nor insured, they are likely to disappear in the event of an accident or injury.  Be wise, don’t spend you money on such a risky venue for your training.

Your lesson should cover no less than these items:

Site selection and evaluation / Kite set up / Safety system operation and check / self launching / assisted launching / self landing / assisted landing / emergency de-power of the kite / flying patterns / one handed kite control / power system adjustments / safety procedures / self rescue and recovery / rules of the road and right of ways / environmental conditions / local rules and regulations / how to keep your kite flying in light wind conditions / proper kite and equipment selection / how and where to practice on your own after the lesson.

Purchase the right size and model of equipment for you to learn and grow into.  Your instructor should help you select the correct size and type of equipment to ensure a safer and more successful path to your learning.  Get the right stuff on the first try, and when your instructor feels you are ready … practice using that equipment as often as you can.

Golden Rule for safety and learning quickly:

Your kite is not suppose to fall or crash EVER, it should only go down when YOU want it down.

Practice flying your kite a lot, and become so skilled with your kite, that it NEVER falls or crashes again. You must learn to fly it with such control, that it does exactly as you wish at all times, or you will calm it down and/or shut it down on command.  Practice using the Safety System to perform Self Landings. Do this as a skill every day you fly the kite.

Some additional thoughts for you to consider:

•     If you have to re-launch the kite … you are not very good at flying it.
•     If you can’t fly it well with one hand … how will you handle a board.
•     If  you don’t know how to self launch and self land your kite … who will help you?
•     Stay down wind of other beach/water users … so you don’t crash into them.
•     If you don’t practice how to kill the kite … you won’t be able to do it.
•     The kite can help you or hurt you … keeping it in control is the #1 rule.
•     If you don’t KNOW what to do … don’t grab the bar!